Joel Berger
@joelberger313.bsky.social
PhD candidate in history writing about Detroit teachers, race, and education politics in the 1960s-70s. Former Detroit Public Schools teacher/DFT member. Dad of two boys. Husband. Current Baltimore City resident. Forever a Detroiter.
Pinned
Joel Berger
@joelberger313.bsky.social
· Jan 23
Lessons From the ‘Red Scare’ in U.S. Public Schools | NEA
During the late 1940s and early 1950s, politicians launched well-coordinated attacks on public school educators over what was taught in the classroom. Sound familiar?
www.nea.org
Reposting this Q and A I did in December with Prof Stuart Foster about how teachers fought back against the ‘50s red scare in U.S. public schools…sure seems pertinent!
www.nea.org/nea-today/al...
www.nea.org/nea-today/al...
Reposted by Joel Berger
a strong letter! We’re saved!
Schumer on the Democratic response to Trump's shakedown of Harvard: "We sent him a very strong letter just the other day asking eight very strong questions."
April 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
a strong letter! We’re saved!
Really love that the Lions used their first two picks this year on the D Line and O Line. Especially re the O Line, this is all about ensuring that a current strength remains a strength.
Dan Campbell 101: shore up those trenches.
Dan Campbell 101: shore up those trenches.
Lions select: G Tate Ratledge, Georgia!
April 26, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Really love that the Lions used their first two picks this year on the D Line and O Line. Especially re the O Line, this is all about ensuring that a current strength remains a strength.
Dan Campbell 101: shore up those trenches.
Dan Campbell 101: shore up those trenches.
Reposted by Joel Berger
Americans, especially white collar Americans, not understanding labor organizing is one of the greatest successes of the Reagan era. People just don’t understand solidarity and say stupid shit like “Fuck that union because I don’t like its president” instead of “join and fight!”
Just saw a lefty lawyer on here saying workers filing for a union election with UAW should vote no bc he doesn't like what Shawn Fain has said and I frankly can't imagine anything more anti-solidarity! As if people risk their livelihoods for *years* organizing for a president, rather than each other
April 25, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Americans, especially white collar Americans, not understanding labor organizing is one of the greatest successes of the Reagan era. People just don’t understand solidarity and say stupid shit like “Fuck that union because I don’t like its president” instead of “join and fight!”
Reposted by Joel Berger
The reason billionaires like McMahon are obsessed with student debt is that creating financial precarity makes people more stressed about losing their job. If you’re worried about your job you’re less likely to quit and find work elsewhere. You’re less likely to ask for a raise. It’s pure class war.
McMahon: "The plan is very simple. We have announced that beginning May 5, you must start to repay your loan. This is not to in any way to try to cause hardship. There are several different payment plans ... but they need to get on it. Because there isn't going to be any loan forgiveness program."
April 23, 2025 at 1:05 AM
The reason billionaires like McMahon are obsessed with student debt is that creating financial precarity makes people more stressed about losing their job. If you’re worried about your job you’re less likely to quit and find work elsewhere. You’re less likely to ask for a raise. It’s pure class war.
Reposted by Joel Berger
Generations of poor kids were sold the idea that taking out a student loan was an investment on their future and one they couldn’t afford to pass. Now after multiple once-in-a-lifetime economic downturns and endless avocado toast pieces those same poor kids are being targeted for immiseration.
BREAKING: Education Department says it will begin collection on student loans for over 5 million borrowers in default.
Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says
The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.
bit.ly
April 21, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Generations of poor kids were sold the idea that taking out a student loan was an investment on their future and one they couldn’t afford to pass. Now after multiple once-in-a-lifetime economic downturns and endless avocado toast pieces those same poor kids are being targeted for immiseration.
Watched Sinners last night and was wowed. This might be best review I’ve read of it yet, by Nadira Goffe. Only critic I’ve read so far that really grapples fully with the racial politics of the vampire metaphors, what it means that Remmick is Irish, the layers of villainy. slate.com/culture/2025...
What, Exactly, Is Sinners Trying to Say?
The racial politics of Ryan Coogler’s buzzy new vampire movie aren’t so black and white.
slate.com
April 21, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Watched Sinners last night and was wowed. This might be best review I’ve read of it yet, by Nadira Goffe. Only critic I’ve read so far that really grapples fully with the racial politics of the vampire metaphors, what it means that Remmick is Irish, the layers of villainy. slate.com/culture/2025...
Van Hollen has been pretty good fighting this whole Trump II term, but I’ll be honest that I didn’t know he had that El Salvador trip in him. In an era full of unpleasant surprises, really nice to get pleasantly surprised by someone showing some actual guts
April 17, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Van Hollen has been pretty good fighting this whole Trump II term, but I’ll be honest that I didn’t know he had that El Salvador trip in him. In an era full of unpleasant surprises, really nice to get pleasantly surprised by someone showing some actual guts
Reposted by Joel Berger
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump admin must facilitate the return of SMART Union Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
April 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump admin must facilitate the return of SMART Union Local 100 apprentice Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
They need to quit wasting time and bring our union brother home NOW!
Sometimes my intellectual brain melts away for a moment and I wonder what went wrong in our society that there is a mass constituency for this absolute, undiluted wickedness. These photo ops are evil. The politicians engaging in them make me question my core belief in the possibility of redemption.
We've reached the point where Republicans are flying to El Salvador to visit one of the most vicious prisons in the world to have photo ops so they can prove their loyalty to the President of the United States.
April 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Sometimes my intellectual brain melts away for a moment and I wonder what went wrong in our society that there is a mass constituency for this absolute, undiluted wickedness. These photo ops are evil. The politicians engaging in them make me question my core belief in the possibility of redemption.
Reposted by Joel Berger
Grim. It’s tough to understand what’s happening without paying attention to the ideology that underlies the unprecedented actions & ambitions of the 21st c right wing.
The rise of end times fascism | Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. Our task is to build a movement strong enough to stop them
www.theguardian.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Grim. It’s tough to understand what’s happening without paying attention to the ideology that underlies the unprecedented actions & ambitions of the 21st c right wing.
Proud to have you as my senator @vanhollen.senate.gov. Thank you!!!
I’m about to board my flight to El Salvador, where I hope to meet with senior government officials to discuss the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home.
I also hope to see Kilmar and check on his condition — and remind him that we won’t stop fighting until he’s home.
Headed to El Salvador to meet with government officials and discuss return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen
youtube.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Proud to have you as my senator @vanhollen.senate.gov. Thank you!!!
Reposted by Joel Berger
Gathering sources for my next dissertation chapter today and pulled back up this Detroit Free Press profile of DFT prez Mary Ellen Riordan during the 1967 Detroit teachers’ strike. I love it so much.
April 15, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Gathering sources for my next dissertation chapter today and pulled back up this Detroit Free Press profile of DFT prez Mary Ellen Riordan during the 1967 Detroit teachers’ strike. I love it so much.
My God
Abrego Garcia's wife: "I will not stop fighting until I see my husband alive. Kilmar, if you can hear me, stay strong. God hasn't forgotten about you. Our children are asking when you will come home ... they miss their dad so much."
April 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
My God
I still can’t get over how crazy this is. Republican House blew up DC’s budget (by accident?) in their spending bill, and sanctimonious zealot Mike Johnson refuses to schedule a bill to fix it. Thus DC is barred from spending ITS OWN TAX MONEY - resulting in layoffs, service cuts, & more. TYRANNY.
BIG NEWS: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is imposing "extraordinary measures" to close the budget gap created by Congress. Those include freezes on spending, hiring, promotions, overtime, and some contracts. She's also planning for possible furloughs and facility closures.
April 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I still can’t get over how crazy this is. Republican House blew up DC’s budget (by accident?) in their spending bill, and sanctimonious zealot Mike Johnson refuses to schedule a bill to fix it. Thus DC is barred from spending ITS OWN TAX MONEY - resulting in layoffs, service cuts, & more. TYRANNY.
Really respect Van Hollen for this. Next level shit. Happy he’s my senator.
I've been clear: if President Bukele doesn't want to meet here in D.C., then I intend to go to El Salvador this week to check on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's condition and discuss his release.
Kilmar was illegally ABDUCTED and deported by the Trump Admin. He must be brought home NOW.
Kilmar was illegally ABDUCTED and deported by the Trump Admin. He must be brought home NOW.
If Bukele doesn't want to meet in D.C., I'll go to El Salvador to check on Kilmar Abrego Garcia
YouTube video by Senator Chris Van Hollen
youtube.com
April 15, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Really respect Van Hollen for this. Next level shit. Happy he’s my senator.
Reposted by Joel Berger
Despite attacks from Trump and Musk, educators & community partners stood strong to protect and invest in public schools. This contract pushes back against dismantling public ed—securing smaller classes, more resources, student protections, and respect for veteran teachers. bsky.app/profile/ctul...
🚨 BREAKING: CTU members overwhelmingly vote for a historic contract!
This contract means Chicago’s school children will have more access to arts, sports, wrap around supports, libraries, and so much more. This is a major leap forward for the schools our students deserve.
This contract means Chicago’s school children will have more access to arts, sports, wrap around supports, libraries, and so much more. This is a major leap forward for the schools our students deserve.
April 15, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Despite attacks from Trump and Musk, educators & community partners stood strong to protect and invest in public schools. This contract pushes back against dismantling public ed—securing smaller classes, more resources, student protections, and respect for veteran teachers. bsky.app/profile/ctul...
Reposted by Joel Berger
I will say this - EVERYONE with power seems to be desperately hoping that unpopularity does the work that consequences need to do
April 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I will say this - EVERYONE with power seems to be desperately hoping that unpopularity does the work that consequences need to do
This reminds me that the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next yr offers a prime year-long organizing opportunity for any and all activist groups who oppose this lawless, fascist administration. SO much you can do with this (assuming Trump isn’t impeached and removed before 2026)
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America250 is holding a nationwide scholastic competition for students in grades 3-12 to win exclusive field trips to some of America’s most iconic sites.
Learn more: america250.org/fieldtrip/
Learn more: america250.org/fieldtrip/
April 14, 2025 at 11:21 PM
This reminds me that the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next yr offers a prime year-long organizing opportunity for any and all activist groups who oppose this lawless, fascist administration. SO much you can do with this (assuming Trump isn’t impeached and removed before 2026)
Reposted by Joel Berger
Good way to see the current tariffs, as of literally today, is no tariffs on high value add manufactured goods marketed to middle and upper middle classes. Massive tariffs for cheap consumer items which amount to the biggest economic privilege of working class/middle class life in US.
April 12, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Good way to see the current tariffs, as of literally today, is no tariffs on high value add manufactured goods marketed to middle and upper middle classes. Massive tariffs for cheap consumer items which amount to the biggest economic privilege of working class/middle class life in US.
The late Mike Davis (RIP) said in an interview near the end of his life that a good 30% of ppl in this country are hardcore fascists…
April 12, 2025 at 10:06 PM
The late Mike Davis (RIP) said in an interview near the end of his life that a good 30% of ppl in this country are hardcore fascists…